Find out what to expect from the property purchase process in Portugal...

The level of bureaucracy involved in the process of purchasing or selling a property in Portugal can make it more difficult for those who don’t have a significant knowledge of the country, language, legal and administrative system, which is why it is strongly recommended to hire a Portuguese lawyer.

Buying a Property in Portugal

To buy a property in Portugal, a Portuguese Fiscal Number form is needed. However, a Portuguese non-resident entity buying property in Portugal will need to designate a Portuguese Tax Representative.

There are two ways to buy property:

Using your own capital – a relatively easy option since you don’t have to go through the process of applying for a loan.

Applying for a loan from a Portuguese financial institution/bank. Note that the Portuguese banks always demand the registration of a mortgage on the property being bought.

Finding a Property

There are many sources for property hunting, including the English-language newspapers such as the Algarve Resident, the Portugal News, and Portuguese newspapers such as Publico, Correio da Manha, Expresso, Sol, and Metro or national or international real estate agencies.